Communication System and Method

ABSTRACT

A method, computer program product, and computing system for defining a communication computing system within a computing network, wherein the computing network includes a plurality of disparate platforms configured to provide information concerning various topics; enabling a first of the plurality of disparate platforms to process information concerning a specific topic; generating observational data for the information concerning the specific topic; and providing the observational data for the information concerning the specific topic to at least a second of the plurality of disparate platforms via the communication computing system.

RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.63/109,219, filed on 3 Nov. 2020, 63/113,439, filed on 13 Nov. 2020, and63/129,301, filed on 22 Dec. 2020; the entire contents of which isherein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to communication systems and methods and, moreparticularly, to communications systems and methods that enable theinteroperation of disparate systems.

BACKGROUND

As is known in the art, medical processionals may use various computersystems to review various pieces of medical information. For example, afirst computer system may be used to review medical images, a secondcomputer system may be used to review medical records, and a thirdcomputer system may be used to generate a medical report based upontheir review of e.g., medical images or medical records.

Unfortunately, these disparate systems tend to be technological islandsthat are generally incapable of exchanging meaningful data between thesesystems. Accordingly and when generating such a medical report, findingsmade in one system may need to be manually reentered into anothersystem.

Summary of Disclosure

In one implementation, a computer-implemented method is executed on acomputing system and includes: defining a communication computing systemwithin a computing network, wherein the computing network includes aplurality of disparate platforms configured to provide informationconcerning various topics; enabling a first of the plurality ofdisparate platforms to process information concerning a specific topic;generating observational data for the information concerning thespecific topic; and providing the observational data for the informationconcerning the specific topic to at least a second of the plurality ofdisparate platforms via the communication computing system.

One or more of the following features may be included. The plurality ofdisparate platforms may include a plurality of disparate medicalplatforms. The plurality of disparate medical platforms may include oneor more of: a medical imaging platform; a medical report platform; amedical analysis platform; a medical record platform; and aconversational AI platform. The information concerning various topicsmay include information concerning various patients. The communicationcomputing system may include a cloud-based communication computingsystem. At least a portion of the plurality of disparate platforms maybe executed on a single computing system. Enabling a first of theplurality of disparate platforms to process information concerning aspecific topic may include: enabling a user of the first of theplurality of disparate platforms to review medical informationconcerning a specific patient. Generating observational data for theinformation concerning the specific topic may include: enabling the userof the first of the plurality of disparate platforms to generatestructured data concerning the specific patient. Providing theobservational data for the information concerning the specific topic toat least a second of the plurality of disparate platforms via thecommunication computing system may include: receiving the observationaldata on the communication computing system. Providing the observationaldata for the information concerning the specific topic to at least asecond of the plurality of disparate platforms via the communicationcomputing system includes: broadcasting the observational data to the atleast a second of the plurality of disparate platforms.

In another implementation, a computer program product resides on acomputer readable medium and has a plurality of instructions stored onit. When executed by a processor, the instructions cause the processorto perform operations including: defining a communication computingsystem within a computing network, wherein the computing networkincludes a plurality of disparate platforms configured to provideinformation concerning various topics; enabling a first of the pluralityof disparate platforms to process information concerning a specifictopic; generating observational data for the information concerning thespecific topic; and providing the observational data for the informationconcerning the specific topic to at least a second of the plurality ofdisparate platforms via the communication computing system.

One or more of the following features may be included. The plurality ofdisparate platforms may include a plurality of disparate medicalplatforms. The plurality of disparate medical platforms may include oneor more of: a medical imaging platform; a medical report platform; amedical analysis platform; a medical record platform; and aconversational AI platform. The information concerning various topicsmay include information concerning various patients. The communicationcomputing system may include a cloud-based communication computingsystem. At least a portion of the plurality of disparate platforms maybe executed on a single computing system. Enabling a first of theplurality of disparate platforms to process information concerning aspecific topic may include: enabling a user of the first of theplurality of disparate platforms to review medical informationconcerning a specific patient. Generating observational data for theinformation concerning the specific topic may include: enabling the userof the first of the plurality of disparate platforms to generatestructured data concerning the specific patient. Providing theobservational data for the information concerning the specific topic toat least a second of the plurality of disparate platforms via thecommunication computing system may include: receiving the observationaldata on the communication computing system. Providing the observationaldata for the information concerning the specific topic to at least asecond of the plurality of disparate platforms via the communicationcomputing system includes: broadcasting the observational data to the atleast a second of the plurality of disparate platforms.

In another implementation, a computing system includes a processor andmemory is configured to perform operations including: defining acommunication computing system within a computing network, wherein thecomputing network includes a plurality of disparate platforms configuredto provide information concerning various topics; enabling a first ofthe plurality of disparate platforms to process information concerning aspecific topic; generating observational data for the informationconcerning the specific topic; and providing the observational data forthe information concerning the specific topic to at least a second ofthe plurality of disparate platforms via the communication computingsystem.

One or more of the following features may be included. The plurality ofdisparate platforms may include a plurality of disparate medicalplatforms. The plurality of disparate medical platforms may include oneor more of: a medical imaging platform; a medical report platform; amedical analysis platform; a medical record platform; and aconversational AI platform. The information concerning various topicsmay include information concerning various patients. The communicationcomputing system may include a cloud-based communication computingsystem. At least a portion of the plurality of disparate platforms maybe executed on a single computing system. Enabling a first of theplurality of disparate platforms to process information concerning aspecific topic may include: enabling a user of the first of theplurality of disparate platforms to review medical informationconcerning a specific patient. Generating observational data for theinformation concerning the specific topic may include: enabling the userof the first of the plurality of disparate platforms to generatestructured data concerning the specific patient. Providing theobservational data for the information concerning the specific topic toat least a second of the plurality of disparate platforms via thecommunication computing system may include: receiving the observationaldata on the communication computing system. Providing the observationaldata for the information concerning the specific topic to at least asecond of the plurality of disparate platforms via the communicationcomputing system includes: broadcasting the observational data to the atleast a second of the plurality of disparate platforms.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth in theaccompanying drawings and the description below. Other features andadvantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, andthe claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a plurality of disparate systems thatcommunicate via a communication process coupled to a distributedcomputing network;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of one implementation of the communicationprocess of FIG. 1 according to an implementation of this disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a workstation computing systemexecuting the communication process of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of another implementation of the communicationprocess of FIG. 1 according to an implementation of this disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of another implementation of the communicationprocess of FIG. 1 according to an implementation of this disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of another implementation of the communicationprocess of FIG. 1 according to an implementation of this disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of another implementation of the communicationprocess of FIG. 1 according to an implementation of this disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of another implementation of the communicationprocess of FIG. 1 according to an implementation of this disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of another implementation of the communicationprocess of FIG. 1 according to an implementation of this disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of another implementation of the communicationprocess of FIG. 1 according to an implementation of this disclosure; and

FIG. 11 is a summary window rendered by the communication process ofFIG. 1.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS System Overview

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown communication process 10. As will bediscussed below in greater detail, communication process 10 may beconfigured to allow for the communication and transfer of data betweenvarious disparate systems.

Communication process 10 may be implemented as a server-side process, aclient-side process, or a hybrid server-side/client-side process. Forexample, communication process 10 may be implemented as a purelyserver-side process via communication process 10 h. Alternatively,communication process 10 may be implemented as a purely client-sideprocess via one or more of communication process 10 cs 1, communicationprocess 10 cs 2, communication process 10 rs, and communication process10 ws. Alternatively still, communication process 10 may be implementedas a hybrid server-side/client-side process via communication process 10h in combination with one or more of communication process 10 cs 1,communication process 10 cs 2, communication process 10 rs, andcommunication process 10 ws.

Accordingly, communication process 10 as used in this disclosure mayinclude any combination of communication process 10 h, communicationprocess 10 cs 1, communication process 10 cs 2, communication process 10rs, and communication process 10 ws.

Communication process 10 h may be a server application and may reside onand may be executed by communication computing system 12, which may beconnected to network 14 (e.g., the Internet or a local area network).Communication computing system 12 may include various components,examples of which may include but are not limited to: a personalcomputer, a server computer, a series of server computers, a minicomputer, a mainframe computer, one or more Network Attached Storage(NAS) systems, one or more Storage Area Network (SAN) systems, one ormore Platform as a Service (PaaS) systems, one or more Infrastructure asa Service (IaaS) systems, one or more Software as a Service (SaaS)systems, a cloud-based computational system, and a cloud-based storageplatform.

As is known in the art, a SAN may include one or more of a personalcomputer, a server computer, a series of server computers, a minicomputer, a mainframe computer, a RAID device and a NAS system. Thevarious components of communication computing system 12 may execute oneor more operating systems, examples of which may include but are notlimited to: Microsoft Windows Server™; Redhat Linux™, Unix, or a customoperating system, for example.

The instruction sets and subroutines of communication process 10 h,which may be stored on storage device 16 coupled to communicationcomputing system 12, may be executed by one or more processors (notshown) and one or more memory architectures (not shown) included withincommunication computing system 12. Examples of storage device 16 mayinclude but are not limited to: a hard disk drive; a RAID device; arandom-access memory (RAM); a read-only memory (ROM); and all forms offlash memory storage devices.

Network 14 may be connected to one or more secondary networks (e.g.,network 18), examples of which may include but are not limited to: alocal area network; a wide area network; an intranet; or the internet.Accordingly, network 14 may be a local area network and network 18 maybe the internet, thus allowing communication process 10 h to be acloud-based resource.

Various pieces of data (e.g. data 20) may be transferred betweencommunication process 10 h, communication process 10 cs 1, communicationprocess 10 cs 2, communication process 10 rs, and communication process10 ws. Examples of data 20 may include but are not limited to datarequests (e.g., data read requests and data write requests) and therelated data itself.

The instruction sets and subroutines of communication process 10 cs 1,communication process 10 cs 2, communication process 10 rs, andcommunication process 10 ws, which may be stored on storage devices 22,24, 26, 28 (respectively) coupled to computing systems 30, 32, 34, 36(respectively), may be executed by one or more processors (not shown)and one or more memory architectures (not shown) incorporated intocomputing systems 30, 32, 34, 36 (respectively). Examples of storagedevices 22, 24, 26, 28 may include but are not limited to: hard diskdrives; optical drives; RAID devices; random access memories (RAM);read-only memories (ROM), and all forms of flash memory storage devices.Examples of computing systems 30, 32, 34, 36 may include, but are notlimited to, collaborating computing system 30 (e.g., a personalcomputer, a workstation computer, a server computer, and a cloud-basedresource), collaborating computing system 32 (e.g., a personal computer,a workstation computer, a server computer, and a cloud-based resource),report computing system 34 (e.g., a personal computer, a workstationcomputer, a server computer, and a cloud-based resource), andworkstation computing system 36 (e.g., a smart telephone, a tabletcomputer, a notebook computer, a laptop computer, a personal computer, aworkstation computer, a server computer, and a cloud-based resource).

As will be discussed below in greater detail, the above-describedplatform (e.g., communication process 10 in combination with computingsystems 12, 30, 32, 34, 36) may be configured to allow clinician 38(e.g., a radiologist, a cardiologist or a pathologist) to review medicalinformation (e.g., data 20) and populate medical report 40. The medicalinformation (e.g., data 20) may be provided by one or more of thecollaborating systems (e.g., collaborating computing systems 30, 32),examples of which may include but are not limited to a collaboratingsystem executing a PACS system and a collaborating system executing anEHR system.

-   -   As is known in the art, a PACS (Picture Archiving and        Communication System) system is a medical imaging technology        that provides economical storage and convenient access to images        from multiple modalities (source machine types). Electronic        images and reports may be transmitted digitally via PACS; thus        eliminating the need to manually file, retrieve and/or transport        film jackets. The universal format for PACS image storage and        transfer is DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in        Medicine). Non-image data, such as scanned documents, may be        incorporated using consumer industry standard formats like PDF        (Portable Document Format), once encapsulated in DICOM.    -   As is known in the art, an EHR (Electronic Health Record) system        is a systematized collection of patient and population        electronically stored health information in a digital format.        These records may be shared across different health care        settings, wherein records maybe shared through        network-connected, enterprise-wide information systems or other        information networks and exchanges. An EHR system may define a        range of data, including demographics, medical histories,        medications and allergies, immunization status, laboratory test        results, radiology images, vital signs, personal statistics, and        billing information.

Accordingly and as will be discussed below in greater detail, clinician38 may utilize workstation computing system 36 to review medicalinformation (e.g., data 20) provided by the collaborating systems (e.g.,collaborating computing systems 30, 32). Report computing system 34 maybe configured to allow clinician 38 to populate medical report (e.g.,medical report 40). Communication process 10 may be configured to allowclinician 38 to utilize audio input device 42 to provide verbalinformation/command 44 based upon information ascertained from themedical information (e.g., data 20).

Examples of audio input device 42 may include but are not limited to alapel microphone, a desktop microphone, a wall-mounted microphone, or adevice-embedded microphone (e.g., a microphone embedded into a laptopcomputer). As will be discussed below in greater detail, communicationcomputing system 12 may be configured to allow all of the computingsystems (e.g., computing systems 12, 30, 32, 34, 36) within theabove-described platform to communicate with each other and exchangeinformation (e.g., data 20).

General Intersystem Communication

Referring also to FIG. 2, communication process 10 may define 100 acommunication computing system (e.g., communication computing system 12)within a computing network (e.g., network 14 and/or network 18). Thecommunication computing system (e.g., communication computing system 12)may be configured as a local system or as a remote system. For example,communication computing system 12 may be a local computing systemdirectly coupled to e.g., computing systems 30, 32, 34, 36 via a localarea network (e.g., network 14). Additionally/alternatively,communication computing system 12 may be a cloud-based computing system(e.g., a cloud-based resource) indirectly coupled to e.g., computingsystems 30, 32, 34, 36 via network 18 (e.g., the internet). As will bediscussed below in greater detail, communication computing system 12 (incombination with communication process 10) may be configured toeffectuate communication between computing systems 30, 32, 34, 36.

As discussed above, this computing network (e.g., network 14 and/ornetwork 18) may couple various computing systems (e.g., computingsystems 12, 30, 32, 34, 36) configured to provide information (e.g.,data 20) concerning various topics. Disparate platforms executed onthese computing systems (e.g., computing systems 12, 30, 32, 34, 36) maygenerate and/or modify information (e.g., data 20), which may beprovided to other computing systems within the computing network (e.g.,network 14 and/or network 18). For example, a disparate platformexecuted on collaborating computing system 30 may generate information(e.g., data 20) that may be provided to workstation computing system 36via the computing network (e.g., network 14 and/or network 18).

As discussed above, communication process 10 may be configured to allowclinician 38 (e.g., a radiologist, a cardiologist or a pathologist) toutilize workstation computing system 36 to review medical information(e.g., data 20) concerning various patients and populate various medicalreports (e.g., medical report 40). Accordingly, the plurality ofdisparate platforms executed on these computing systems (e.g., computingsystems 12, 30, 32, 34, 36) may include a plurality of disparate medicalplatforms (e.g., medical imaging platform 46; medical report platform48; medical record platform 50; conversational AI platform 52;illumination platform 54 and/or medical analysis platform 56.

At least a portion of the plurality of disparate platforms (e.g.,disparate platforms 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56) may be executed on a singlecomputing system. For example and referring also to FIG. 3, workstationcomputing system 36 may be configured to support multiple monitors(e.g., monitors 150, 152, 154), which may be simultaneously used byclinician 38 to access and utilize the various disparate platforms(e.g., disparate platforms 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56).

In this example, monitor 150 is shown to allow clinician 38 to accessmedical imaging platform 46, wherein monitor 152 is shown to allowclinician 38 to access medical record platform 50. Assume for thisexample that medical imaging platform 46 is being executed oncollaborating system 30, while medical record platform 50 is beingexecuted on collaborating system 32. Accordingly, at least a portion ofmedical imaging platform 46 and at least a portion of medical recordplatform 50 may be executed on a single computing system (e.g.,workstation computing system 36), wherein:

-   -   medical image platform portion 156 may interact with medical        image platform 46 being executed on collaborating system 30 and        may enable clinician 38 to review the medical images provided by        medical image platform 46 on workstation computing system 36;        and    -   medical record platform portion 158 may interact with medical        record platform 50 being executed on collaborating system 32 and        may enable clinician 38 to review the medical records provided        by medical record platform 50 on workstation computing system        36.

A) Passing of Observational Data

Communication process 10 may enable 102 a first of the plurality ofdisparate platforms (e.g., medical image platform 46) to processinformation (e.g., data 20) concerning a specific topic.

As discussed above, communication process 10 may be configured to allowclinician 38 (e.g., a radiologist, a cardiologist or a pathologist) toutilize workstation computing system 36 to review medical information(e.g., data 20) concerning various patients and populate various medicalreports (e.g., medical report 40). Accordingly and when enabling 102 afirst of the plurality of disparate platforms (e.g., medical imageplatform 46) to process information (e.g., data 20) concerning aspecific topic (e.g., a specific patient), communication process 10 mayenable 104 a user (e.g., clinician 38) of the first of the plurality ofdisparate platforms (e.g., medical image platform 46) to review medicalinformation (e.g., data 20) concerning a specific patient.

For this example, assume that collaborating system 30 is executingmedical image platform 46 (e.g., PACS), wherein medical image platformportion 156 is executed on workstation computing system 36. Accordingly,medical image platform 46 (e.g., PACS) being executed on collaboratingsystem 30 may provide chest x-ray image 160 (e.g., data 20) of a patient(e.g., patient John Smith), wherein clinician 38 may review chest x-rayimage 160 using medical image platform portion 156 being executed onworkstation computing system 36.

Communication process 10 may generate 106 observational data (e.g., data58) for the information (e.g., data 20) concerning the specific topic(e.g., a specific patient). For example and when generating 106observational data (e.g., data 58) for the information (e.g., data 20)concerning the specific topic (e.g., a specific patient), communicationprocess 10 may enable 108 the user (e.g., clinician 38) of the first ofthe plurality of disparate platforms (e.g., medical image platform 46)to generate structured data concerning the specific patient.

Specifically and with respect to structured data, structured data mayrelate to a structured observation that is made by (in this example)clinician 38, wherein a structured observation may be codified (have oneor more medical codes assigned). For example, a lung may have anassigned medical code . . . and a growth may have an assigned medicalcode . . . and over 5.0 centimeters may have an assigned medical code.

Accordingly, communication process 10 may enable 104 clinician 38 toreview chest x-ray image 160 (via medical image platform portion 156executed on workstation computing system 36) to generate 106observational data (e.g., data 58) for chest x-ray image 160 of patientJohn Smith. Examples of such observational data (e.g., data 58) mayinclude but are not limited to structured data that concerns e.g.,measurements of objects within an image (e.g., x-ray image 160), thelocation of objects within an image (e.g., x-ray image 160), and thetype of image (e.g., x-ray image 160).

Accordingly and via medical image platform portion 156 executed onworkstation computing system 36, clinician 38 may review chest x-rayimage 160. Upon reviewing chest x-ray image 160, clinician 38 may noticea growth (e.g., growth 162) within x-ray image 160. Accordingly andthrough medical image platform portion 156 executed on workstationcomputing system 36, communication process 10 may enable 108 clinician38 to measure growth 162 (measured to be 5.1 centimeters), thusgenerating 106 observational data (e.g., data 58).

Communication process 10 may provide 110 the observational data (e.g.,data 58) for the information (e.g., data 20) concerning the specifictopic (e.g., a specific patient) to at least a second of the pluralityof disparate platforms (e.g., medical report platform 48) via thecommunication computing system (e.g., communication computing system12). For this example, assume that the observational data (e.g., data58) identifies the location of growth 162 (e.g., lower quadrant of leftlung) and the size of growth 162 (e.g., 5.1 centimeters).

When providing 110 the observational data (e.g., data 58) for theinformation (e.g., data 20) concerning the specific topic (e.g., aspecific patient) to at least a second of the plurality of disparateplatforms (e.g., medical report platform 48) via the communicationcomputing system (e.g., communication computing system 12),communication process 10 may:

-   -   receive 112 the observational data (e.g., data 58) on the        communication computing system (e.g., communication computing        system 12); and    -   broadcast 114 the observational data (e.g., data 58) to the at        least a second of the plurality of disparate platforms (e.g.,        medical report platform 48).

For example and as discussed above, through medical image platformportion 156 executed on workstation computing system 36, communicationprocess 10 may enable 108 clinician 38 to measure growth 162 (measuredto be 5.1 centimeters), thus generating 106 observational data (e.g.,data 58). This observational data (e.g., data 58) may then be providedto communication computing system 12. For example, medical imageplatform portion 156 that is executed on workstation computing system 36may provide observational data (e.g., data 58) to communicationcomputing system 12. Additionally/alternatively, medical image platform46 (e.g., PACS) that is executed on collaborating system 30 may provideobservational data (e.g., data 58) to communication computing system 12.

Once the observational data (e.g., data 58) is received 112 on thecommunication computing system (e.g., communication computing system12), the communication computing system (e.g., communication computingsystem 12) may broadcast 114 the observational data (e.g., data 58) tothe at least a second of the plurality of disparate platforms (e.g.,medical report platform 48).

As discussed above, medical report platform 48 may be configured toallow clinician 38 to populate a medical report (e.g., medical report40) concerning (in this example) patient John Smith. Accordingly and aswill be discussed below in greater detail, once the observational data(e.g., data 58) is received 112, the communication computing system(e.g., communication computing system 12) may broadcast 114 theobservational data (e.g., data 58) to medical report platform 48 so thatthe observational data (e.g., data 58) may be utilized to populate amedical report (e.g., medical report 40) for the patient (e.g., patientJohn Smith). Accordingly, the appropriate field (e.g., field 164) withinmedical report 40 of patient John Smith may be populated by medicalreport platform 48 to state that chest x-ray image 160 of patient JohnSmith shows a 5.1 centimeter growth (e.g., growth 162) in the lowerquadrant of the left lung.

B) Processing of Verbal Commands

Referring also to FIG. 4 and as discussed above, communication process10 may define 100 a communication computing system (e.g., communicationcomputing system 12) within a computing network (e.g., network 14 and/ornetwork 18). This computing network (e.g., network 14 and/or network 18)may couple various computing systems (e.g., computing systems 12, 30,32, 34, 36) configured to provide information (e.g., data 20) concerningvarious topics. Disparate platforms (e.g., disparate platforms 46, 48,50, 52, 54, 56) executed on these computing systems (e.g., computingsystems 12, 30, 32, 34, 36) may generate and/or modify information(e.g., data 20), which may be provided to other computing systems withinthe computing network (e.g., network 14 and/or network 18).

Communication process 10 may enable 200 a user (e.g., clinician 38) toissue a verbal command (e.g., verbal information/command 44) concerningone or more of the plurality of disparate platforms (e.g., disparateplatforms 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56).

As discussed above, communication process 10 may be configured to allowclinician 38 to utilize audio input device 42 to provide verbalinformation/command 44 based upon information ascertained from themedical information (e.g., data 20). Examples of audio input device 42may include but are not limited to a lapel microphone, a desktopmicrophone, a wall-mounted microphone, or a device-embedded microphone(e.g., a microphone embedded into a laptop computer). Accordingly, sincecommunication process 10 enables 200 clinician 38 to issue verbalcommands (e.g., verbal information/command 44) concerning the disparateplatforms (e.g., disparate platforms 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56),communication process 10 may provide clinician 38 with virtual assistantfunctionality.

Communication process 10 may process 202 the verbal command (e.g.,verbal information/command 44) to generate a platform-useable command(e.g., platform-useable command 60) based, at least in part, upon theverbal command (e.g., verbal information/command 44). As discussedabove, the plurality of disparate platforms (e.g., disparate platforms46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56) may include medical imaging platform 46; medicalreport platform 48; medical record platform 50; conversational AIplatform 52; illumination platform 54 and/or medical analysis platform56.

When processing 202 the verbal command (e.g., verbal information/command44) to generate a platform-useable command (e.g., platform-useablecommand 60) based, at least in part, upon the verbal command (e.g.,verbal information/command 44), communication process 10 may process 204the verbal command (e.g., verbal information/command 44) via aconversational AI platform (e.g., conversational AI platform 52) togenerate the platform-useable command (e.g., platform-useable command60) based, at least in part, upon the verbal command (e.g., verbalinformation/command 44).

While conversational AI platform 52 is shown to be executed on reportcomputing system 34, this is for illustrative purposes only and is notintended to be a limitation of this disclosure, as other configurationsare possible and are considered to be within the scope of thisdisclosure. For example, conversational AI platform 52 may be executedon any other computing system (e.g., computing systems 12, 30, 32, 36),

As is known in the art, conversational AI is a technology that enablesspeech-based interaction between humans and computing systems.Accordingly, conversational AI platform 52 may process human speech(e.g., verbal information/command 44) to decipher the same so that e.g.,a computing system may effectuate a computer-based response and/orrender a speech-based response.

Conversational AI platform 52 may utilize Natural language Understanding(NLU). As is known in the art, NLU is a branch of artificialintelligence (AI) that uses computer software to understand verbalinputs provided by a user (e.g., clinician 38). NLU may directly enablehuman-computer interaction (HCI), wherein the understanding of naturalhuman language may enable computers to understand human-providedcommands (without the formalized syntax of computer languages) andfurther enable these computers to respond to the human in their ownlanguage. The field of NLU is an important and challenging subset ofnatural language processing (NLP), as NLU is tasked with communicatingwith untrained individuals and understanding their intent. Accordingly,NLU goes beyond understanding words and actually interprets the meaningof such words. NLU may use algorithms to reduce human speech into astructured ontology, fleshing out such things as intent, timing,locations and sentiments.

Once generated, communication process 10 may provide 206 theplatform-useable command (e.g., platform-useable command 60) to at leasta portion of the plurality of disparate platforms (e.g., disparateplatforms 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56) via the communication computing system(e.g., communication computing system 12).

For the following example, assume that monitor 150 is a diagnostichealthcare display (e.g., such as a healthcare display offered byBarco™). Accordingly, monitor 150 may be controllable by illuminationplatform 54, which may be executed on workstation computing system 36.Through the use of illumination platform 54, clinician 38 may controlvarious aspects of monitor 150, such as adjusting the brightness,adjusting the contrast, and enabling resolution enhancing features. Inorder to enable such control of monitor 150, monitor 150 may executeillumination application 166, which may be configured to processcommands received from illumination platform 54.

For the following example, assume that verbal information/command 44provided by clinician 38 is “Hey Monitor . . . Turn on Illuminate”,which instructs monitor 150 to turn on a resolution enhancing featurecalled “Illuminate”. Accordingly, communication process 10 (viaconversation AI platform) may process 202 verbal information/command 44(e.g., “Hey Monitor . . . Turn on Illuminate”) to generate aplatform-useable command (e.g., platform-useable command 60), wherein anexample of platform-useable command 60 may include “Monitor: IlluminateStatus=1”.

When providing 206 the platform-useable command (e.g., platform-useablecommand 60) to at least a portion of the plurality of disparateplatforms (e.g., disparate platforms 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56) via thecommunication computing system (e.g., communication computing system12), communication process 10 may:

-   -   receive 208 the platform-useable command (e.g., platform-useable        command 60) on the communication computing system (e.g.,        communication computing system 12); and    -   broadcast 210 the platform-useable command (e.g.,        platform-useable command 60) to at least a portion of the        plurality of disparate platforms (e.g., disparate platforms 46,        48, 50, 52, 54, 56).

As discussed above, communication process 10 may enable 200 clinician 38to issue verbal information/command 44 (e.g., “Hey Monitor . . . Turn onIlluminate”), which may be processed 204 by conversational AI platform52 (which is executed on report computing system 34) to generateplatform-useable command 60 (e.g., Monitor: Illuminate Status=1).Conversational AI platform 52 may then provide platform-useable command60 to communication computing system 12.

Once the platform-useable command (e.g., platform-useable command 60) isreceived 208 on the communication computing system (e.g., communicationcomputing system 12), the communication computing system (e.g.,communication computing system 12) may broadcast 210 theplatform-useable command (e.g., platform-useable command 60) to the aportion of the plurality of disparate platforms (e.g., illuminationplatform 54).

Once broadcast 210, communication process 10 may receive 212 theplatform-useable command (e.g., command 46) on at least one of theplurality of disparate platforms (e.g., computing systems 12, 28, 30,32, 34). For example, communication process 10 may receive 212platform-useable command 60 on illumination platform 54 (which isexecuted on workstation computing system 36). Communication process 10may then process 214 platform-useable command 60 on illuminationplatform 54, wherein illumination platform 54 may provide the necessarycommands to illumination application 166 (which is executed on monitor150) so that the Illuminate functionality may be turned on.

In the event that the platform-useable command 60 has some ambiguity,illumination application 166/illumination platform 54 (via communicationcomputing system 12→conversational AI platform 52) may make an inquiry(possibly verbally) to clarify the ambiguity. For example, if Illuminatehas three brightness levels, illumination application 166/illuminationplatform 54 may verbally ask clinician 38 “What level of brightnesswould you prefer?”

C) Information Broadcast

Referring also to FIG. 5 and as discussed above, communication process10 may define 100 a communication computing system (e.g., communicationcomputing system 12) within a computing network (e.g., network 14 and/ornetwork 18). This computing network (e.g., network 14 and/or network 18)may couple various computing systems (e.g., computing systems 12, 30,32, 34, 36) configured to provide information (e.g., data 20) concerningvarious topics. Disparate platforms (e.g., disparate platforms 46, 48,50, 52, 54, 56) executed on these computing systems (e.g., computingsystems 12, 30, 32, 34, 36) may generate and/or modify information(e.g., data 20), which may be provided to other computing systems withinthe computing network (e.g., network 14 and/or network 18).

As discussed above, communication computing system 12 (in combinationwith communication process 10) may be configured to effectuatecommunication between computing systems 30, 32, 34, 36, whereincommunication computing system 12 may receive data from one disparateplatform and broadcast the data to another disparate platform. As willbe discussed below in greater detail, in order to avoid communicationcomputing system 12 broadcasting all data to all disparate platforms,communication process 10 may be configured to enable disparate platformsto register to receive only certain pieces of data.

Communication process 10 may enable 250 one or more specific disparateplatforms (e.g., disparate platforms 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56), includedwithin the plurality of disparate platforms (e.g., disparate platforms46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56), to register with the communication computingsystem (e.g., communication computing system 12) to receive information(e.g., data 20) concerning a specific topic (e.g., a specific patient).

As discussed above, assume for this example that clinician 38 is usingmedical image platform 46 (executed on collaborating computing system30) to review chest x-ray image 160 of patient John Smith, whereinclinician 38 is populating medical report 40 using medical reportplatform 48 (executed on report computing system 34). Accordingly,medical report platform 48 may be interested in receiving allinformation that concerns patient John Smith (as clinician 38 hasutilized medical report platform 48 to populate the medical report(e.g., medical report 40) of patient John Smith).

When one or more specific disparate platforms (e.g., disparate platforms46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56) registers with the communication computingsystem (e.g., communication computing system 12) to receive information(e.g., data 20) concerning a specific topic (e.g., a specific patient),the one or more specific disparate platforms (e.g., disparate platforms46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56) may subscribe 252 with the communicationcomputing system (e.g., communication computing system 12) to receiveinformation (e.g., data 20) concerning the specific topic (e.g., aspecific patient) that is broadcast by the communication computingsystem (e.g., communication computing system 12).

Accordingly, medical report platform 48 may subscribe 252 withcommunication computing system 12 to receive information (e.g., data 20)concerning the specific topic (e.g., patient John Smith) that isbroadcast by the communication computing system (e.g., communicationcomputing system 12). Once medical report platform 48 is subscribed 252,any information that concerns the specific topic for which medicalreport platform 48 has subscribed (in this example, patient John Smith)will be broadcast to medical report platform 48. Accordingly, any andall information that concerns patient John Smith (such as chest x-rayimage 160) will be broadcast to/received by medical report platform 48.Conversely, any and all information that concerns other patients (forwhich medical report platform 48 has not subscribed) will not bebroadcast to/received by medical report platform 48.

For the following example, assume that medical report platform 48subscribed 252 to receive information concerning patient John Smith.Further assume that medical image platform 46 provides another x-rayimage (e.g., data 62) that concerns patent John Smith. As discussedabove, communication computing system 12 (in combination withcommunication process 10) may be configured to effectuate communicationbetween computing systems 30, 32, 34, 36, wherein communicationcomputing system 12 may receive data from one disparate platform andbroadcast the data to another disparate platform. Accordingly,communication process 10 may receive 254, on the communication computingsystem (e.g., communication computing system 12), information (e.g.,data 62) concerning the specific topic (e.g., patient John Smith).

When receiving 254, on the communication computing system (e.g.,communication computing system 12), information (e.g., data 62)concerning the specific topic, communication process 10 may receive 256on communication computing system 12 information concerning varioustopics. As could be imagined, since communication computing system 12effectuates communication between computing systems 30, 32, 34, 36,communication computing system 12 would receive information concerningvarious topics (e.g., various patients in this example).

Further and when receiving 254, on the communication computing system(e.g., communication computing system 12), information (e.g., data 62)concerning the specific topic (e.g., a specific patient), communicationprocess 10 may process 258 the information concerning the various topics(e.g., various patients) to determine if the information concerning thevarious topics (e.g., various patients) includes information (e.g., data62) concerning the specific topic (e.g., patient John Smith).

Communication process 10 may provide 260 the information (e.g., data 62)concerning the specific topic (e.g., patient John Smith) to the one ormore specific disparate platforms (e.g., medical report platform 48)that registered with the communication computing system (e.g.,communication computing system 12) to receive information (e.g., data62) concerning the specific topic (e.g., patient John Smith).

When providing 260 the information (e.g., data 62) concerning thespecific topic (e.g., patient John Smith) to the one or more specificdisparate platforms (e.g., medical report platform 48) that registeredwith the communication computing system (e.g., communication computingsystem 12) to receive information (e.g., data 62) concerning thespecific topic (e.g., patient John Smith), communication process 10 mayproactively broadcast 262 the information (e.g., data 62) concerning thespecific topic (e.g., patient John Smith) to the one or more specificdisparate platforms (e.g., medical report platform 48) that registeredwith the communication computing system (e.g., communication computingsystem 12) to receive information (e.g., data 62) concerning thespecific topic (e.g., patient John Smith).

Accordingly and in this example, medical report platform 48 receives allinformation that concerns patient John Smith and does not receiveinformation that concerns other patients for which they did notregister.

D) Exposing an Endpoint

Referring also to FIG. 6 and as discussed above, communication process10 may define 100 a communication computing system (e.g., communicationcomputing system 12) within a computing network (e.g., network 14 and/ornetwork 18). This computing network (e.g., network 14 and/or network 18)may couple various computing systems (e.g., computing systems 12, 30,32, 34, 36) configured to provide information (e.g., data 20) concerningvarious topics. Disparate platforms (e.g., disparate platforms 46, 48,50, 52, 54, 56) executed on these computing systems (e.g., computingsystems 12, 30, 32, 34, 36) may generate and/or modify information(e.g., data 20), which may be provided to other computing systems withinthe computing network (e.g., network 14 and/or network 18).

Further and as discussed above, communication computing system 12 (incombination with communication process 10) may be configured toeffectuate communication between computing systems 30, 32, 34, 36,wherein communication computing system 12 may receive data from onedisparate platform and broadcast the data to another disparate platform.

Further and as discussed above, communication computing system 12 may bea local computing system directly coupled to e.g., computing systems 30,32, 34, 36 via a local area network (e.g., network 14) and/or acloud-based computing system (e.g., a cloud-based resource) indirectlycoupled to e.g., computing systems 30, 32, 34, 36 via network 18 (e.g.,the internet). Accordingly and in order for such communication to occur,the location of communication computing system 12 must be known to thedisparate platforms (e.g., disparate platforms 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56)

In order to effectuate such communication, communication process 10 mayexpose 300 an endpoint (e.g., endpoint 64) within the computing network(e.g., network 14 and/or network 18) that provides directory assistanceto enable one or more specific disparate platforms, included within theplurality of disparate platforms (e.g., disparate platforms 46, 48, 50,52, 54, 56), to communicate with the communication computing system(e.g., communication computing system 12).

As used in this disclosure and as will be discussed below in greaterdetail, an endpoint (e.g., endpoint 64) may be any feature/functionalitythat provides directory assistance to enable the disparate platforms(e.g., disparate platforms 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56) to ascertain thelocation of communication computing system 12.

For example and when exposing 300 an endpoint (e.g., endpoint 64) withinthe computing network (e.g., network 14 and/or network 18),communication process 10 may publish 302 a well-known uniform resourceidentifier (e.g., URI 66) within the computing network (e.g., network 14and/or network 18) to enable one or more specific disparate platforms,included within the plurality of disparate platforms (e.g., disparateplatforms 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56), to communicate with the communicationcomputing system (e.g., communication computing system 12).

As is known in the art, a uniform resource identifier (e.g., URI 66) isa unique identifier used by web technologies. URIs may be used toidentify anything, including real-world objects (e.g., people andplaces, concepts, or information resources such web pages and books).Some URIs provide a means of locating and retrieving informationresources on a network (e.g., either on the Internet or on anotherprivate network, such as a computer filesystem or an Intranet), whereinthese are referred to as Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). Other URIsmay provide only a unique name, without a means of locating orretrieving the resource or information about it, wherein these arereferred to as Uniform Resource Names (URNs).

Further and when exposing 300 an endpoint (e.g., endpoint 62) within thecomputing network (e.g., network 14 and/or network 18), communicationprocess 10 may execute 304 a connector application (e.g., connectorapplication 68) on a computing platform (e.g., workstation computingsystem 68) coupled to the computing network (e.g., network 14 and/ornetwork 18), wherein the connector application (e.g., connectorapplication 68) publishes the well-known uniform resource identifier(e.g., URI 66) within the computing network (e.g., network 14 and/ornetwork 18) to enable one or more specific disparate platforms, includedwithin the plurality of disparate platforms (e.g., disparate platforms46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56), to communicate with the communication computingsystem (e.g., communication computing system 12)

When exposing 300 an endpoint (e.g., endpoint 62) within the computingnetwork (e.g., network 14 and/or network 18), communication process 10may monitor 306 the computing network (e.g., network 14 and/or network18) for a communication request (e.g., request 70) by a specificdisparate platform included within the plurality of disparate platforms(e.g., disparate platforms 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56).

Further and when exposing 300 an endpoint (e.g., endpoint 62) within thecomputing network (e.g., network 14 and/or network 18), communicationprocess 10 may provide 308 directory assistance (if a communicationrequest (e.g., request 70) is received) to enable the one or morespecific disparate platforms, included within the plurality of disparateplatforms (e.g., computing systems 12, 28, 30, 32, 34), to communicatewith the communication computing system (e.g., communication computingsystem 12).

For the following example, assume that communication computing system 12is a cloud-based resource and, therefore, is not directly coupled tonetwork 14 but is indirectly coupled to network 14 through network 18(e.g., the internet). Accordingly, URI 66 may identify theinternet-based location of cloud-based communication computing system12.

For example, upon workstation computing system 36 starting up and/orinitiating a session, communication process 10 may expose 300 endpoint64 within the computing network (e.g., network 14 and/or network 18),wherein endpoint 64 may be configured to provide directory assistancethat enables one or more disparate platforms (included within disparateplatforms 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56) to communicate with communicationcomputing system 12. Specifically and when exposing 300 endpoint 62within the computing network (e.g., network 14 and/or network 18),communication process 10 may execute 304 connector application 68 onworkstation computing system 68, wherein connector application 68publishes URI 66 so that any disparate platforms (included withindisparate platforms 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56) may communicate withcommunication computing system 12.

For the various reason discussed above, medical report platform 48 maybe interested in receiving all information that concerns patient JohnSmith (as clinician 38 has utilized medical report platform 48 topopulate the medical report (e.g., medical report 40) of patient JohnSmith. Therefore, medical report platform 48 may wish to subscribe toreceive information (e.g., data 20) concerning patient John Smith fromcommunication computing system 12. Accordingly, medical report platform48 may generate and provide a communication request (e . . . , request70) for communication with communication computing system 12.

As discussed above, communication process 10 may monitor 306 thecomputing network (e.g., network 14 and/or network 18) for acommunication request (e.g., request 70) by (in this example) medicalreport platform 48. Upon receiving request 70, communication process 10may provide 308 directory assistance to enable (in this example) medicalreport platform 48 to communicate with communication computing system12. Specifically, communication process 10 may provide 308 directoryassistance by e.g., having connector application 68 publishes URI 66 sothat medical report platform 48 knows the location (i.e., address) ofcommunication computing system 12.

E) Populating Medical Reports

Referring also to FIG. 7, communication process 10 may receive 350observational medical data (e.g., data 58). When receiving 350 thisobservational medical data (e.g., data 58), communication process 10 mayreceive 352 observational medical data (e.g., data 58) from one or moreof:

-   -   At Least One Disparate Platform: For example, communication        process 10 may be configured to obtain observational medical        data (e.g., data 58) from any of the disparate platform (e.g.,        disparate platforms 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56) that are accessible        to communication process 10.    -   An Existing Medical Record: For example, communication process        10 may be configured to process existing medical records (e.g.,        medical records 72) available via medical record platform 50 to        extract observational medical data (e.g., data 58).    -   An Existing Medical Report: For example, communication process        10 may be configured to process existing medical reports (e.g.,        medical reports 74) available via medical report platform 48 to        extract observational medical data (e.g., data 58).    -   An Artificial Intelligence Platform: For example, communication        process 10 may be configured to utilize an artificial        intelligence platform (e.g., medical analysis platform 56) to        process (for example) existing medical records (e.g., medical        records 72), existing medical reports (e.g., medical reports        74), existing medical forms (e.g., handwritten note 76) and        existing medical recordings (e.g., voice recording 78) to        extract observational medical data (e.g., data 58).    -   Manually-Entered Data: For example, communication process 10 may        be configured to receive observational medical data (e.g., data        58) manually entered by clinician 38 via e.g., audio input        device 42, a keyboard (not shown) and/or a pointing device (not        shown) coupled to workstation computing system 36.

Accordingly and when utilizing observational medical data (e.g., data58) to populate a medical report (e.g., medical report 40), thisobservational medical data (e.g., data 58) may be obtained frombasically any source. Further and as will be discussed below in greaterdetail, this observational data (e.g., data 58) need not be provided bya human being (e.g., clinician 38) and may be provided without humanintervention via e.g., artificial intelligence.

Once received 350, communication process 10 may process 354 theobservational medical data (e.g., data 58) to populate at least aportion of a medical report (e.g., medical report 40).

When processing 354 the observational medical data (e.g., data 58) topopulate at least a portion of a medical report (e.g., medical report40), communication process 10 may:

-   -   process 356 the observational medical data (e.g., data 58) to        generate natural language prose 80 using e.g., conversational AI        platform 52; and    -   populate 358 at least a portion of the medical report (e.g.,        medical report 40) using natural language prose 80.

Continuing with the above-stated example, the observational data (e.g.,data 58) for patient John Smith identifies the following:

-   -   PATIENT: John Smith;    -   TYPE: Growth;    -   LOCATION: Lower Quadrant of Left Lung; and    -   SIZE: 5.1 Centimeters.

Accordingly and upon receiving 350 observational medical data 58 (e.g.,John Smith, Growth, Lower Quadrant of Left Lung, 5.1 Centimeters),communication process 10 may process 356 the observational medical data(e.g., data 58) to generate natural language prose 80 using e.g.,conversational AI platform 52 executed on report computing system 34.For example, communication process 10 may process 356 observationalmedical data 58 (e.g., John Smith, Growth, Lower Quadrant of Left Lung,5.1 Centimeters) to generate natural language prose 80, an example ofwhich may include but is not limited to “Patient John Smith has a growthin the lower quadrant of left lung that measures 5.1 centimeters”. Oncenatural language prose 80 is generated, communication process 10 maypopulate 358 at least a portion of the medical report (e.g., medicalreport 40) using natural language prose 80. For example, communicationprocess 10 may populate 358 field 164 within medical report 40 to statethat “Patient John Smith has a growth in the lower quadrant of left lungthat measures 5.1 centimeters”

Additionally/alternatively and when processing 354 the observationalmedical data (e.g., data 58) to populate at least a portion of a medicalreport (e.g., medical report 40), communication process 10 may process360 the observational medical data (e.g., data 58) using a script (e.g.,script 82) to populate at least a portion of the medical report (e.g.,medical report 40). For example, script 82 may be defined by e.g.,clinician 38 and may generally function as an if/then statement that maybe used when mapping data into the appropriate fields within medicalreport 40. For example, script 82 may define keywords and/orstandardized medical codes that are associable with specific fieldswithin a medical report. For example, the keyword:

-   -   “renal” may be associable with the “Kidneys” field within        medical report 40;    -   “pneumonia” may be associable with the “Lungs” field within        medical report 40; and    -   “aorta” may be associable with the “Heart” field within medical        report 40.

Additionally, script 82 may be utilized to quantify an entity. Forexample, script 82 say that:

-   -   if a growth 6.00 cm or greater, it is a large growth;    -   if a growth is 3.00-5.99 cm, it is a medium growth; and    -   if a growth is less than 2.99 cm, it is a small growth.

Additionally/alternatively and when processing 354 the observationalmedical data (e.g., data 58) to populate at least a portion of a medicalreport (e.g., medical report 40), communication process 10 may process362 the observational medical data (e.g., data 58) using a template(e.g., template 84) to populate at least a portion of the medical report(e.g., medical report 40). For example, template 84 may bemanually-defined by e.g., clinician 38 and may generally provide thestructure for the language that is used to populate medical report 40.

In the example discussed above, communication process 10 may populateprocess medical report 40 with “Patient John Smith has a growth in thelower quadrant of left lung that measures 5.1 centimeters”. As discussedabove, the observational data (e.g., data 58) included within thisstatement is “______ John Smith ______ growth ______ lower quadrant ofleft lung ______ 5.1 centimeters”. Accordingly, an example of template84 (which may define the structure for this statement) may be “Patient______ has a ______ in the ______ that measures ______”.

While template 84 is described above as being defined by a human being(e.g., clinician 38), other configurations are possible and areconsidered to be within the scope of this disclosure. For example and aswill be discussed below in greater detail, template 84 may be generatedvia artificial intelligence.

Accordingly and when processing 354 the observational medical data(e.g., data 58) to populate at least a portion of a medical report(e.g., medical report 40), communication process 10 may process 364 theobservational medical data (e.g., data 58) using extracted patterns(e.g., extracted patterns 86) to populate at least a portion of themedical report (e.g., medical report 40), wherein these extractedpatterns (e.g., extracted patterns 86) may be used to generate one ormore templates (e.g., template 84).

For example, these extracted patterns (e.g., extracted patterns 86) maybe generated using artificial intelligence (via e.g., medical analysisplatform 56) to process a plurality of previously-generated medicalreports (e.g., medical reports 74). For example, communication process10 may utilize medical analysis platform 56 to analyze medical reports74 to identify patterns within these medical reports.

As is known in the art, pattern recognition is the process ofrecognizing patterns using a machine learning algorithm. Patternrecognition may be defined as the classification of data based onknowledge already gained or on statistical information extracted frompatterns and/or their representation. Pattern recognition is generallythe ability to detect arrangements of characteristics or data that yieldinformation about a given system or data set. In a technologicalcontext, a recognized patterns might be recurring sequences of data overtime that may be used to predict trends, particular configurations offeatures in images that identify objects, frequent combinations of wordsand phrases for natural language processing (NLP), or particularclusters of behaviors on a network that could indicate an attack.

Accordingly, communication process 10 may utilize medical analysisplatform 56 to analyze previously-generated medical reports 74 toidentify patterns (e.g., extracted patterns 86) within thesepreviously-generated medical reports 74, wherein these extractedpatterns (e.g., extracted patterns 86) may be used to generate one ormore templates (e.g., template 84). For example and upon communicationprocess 10 utilizing medical analysis platform 56 to analyzepreviously-generated medical reports 74, an extracted pattern (e.g.,extracted pattern 86) may be identified, wherein entities are typicallyreported as follows: “Patient ______ has a ______ in the ______ thatmeasures ______”. Accordingly, this extracted pattern may be utilized togenerate one or more templates (e.g., template 84).

As will be discussed below in greater detail, these extracted patterns(e.g., extracted patterns 86) may be used by communication process 10 todefine options for clinician 38 (e.g., a radiologist, a cardiologist ora pathologist) as to e.g., which field within medical report 40 aparticular statement (e.g., “Patient John Smith has a growth in thelower quadrant of left lung that measures 5.1 centimeters”) should beplaced.

F) Medical Report Field Association

Referring also to FIG. 8 and as discussed above, communication process10 may receive 400 medical information (e.g., data 20). As alsodiscussed above, communication process 10 may utilize this medicalinformation (e.g., data 20) to populate medical reports (e.g., medicalreport 40).

The medical information (e.g., data 20) may include one or more of:

-   -   medical information (e.g., data 20) dictated by clinician 38        (e.g., a radiologist, a cardiologist or a pathologist). For        example, clinician 38 may dictate verbal information via e.g.,        audio input device 42 coupled to workstation computing system        36. This verbal information may be processed via artificial        intelligence platform (e.g., conversational AI platform and/or        medical analysis platform 56).    -   medical information (e.g., data 20) obtained from at least one        disparate platform (e.g., disparate platforms 46, 48, 50, 52,        54, 56).    -   medical information (e.g., data 20) obtained from an existing        medical record (e.g., medical records 72).    -   medical information (e.g., data 20) obtained from an artificial        intelligence platform (e.g., medical analysis platform 56).    -   medical information (e.g., data 20) obtained from a form (e.g.,        handwritten note 76).    -   medical information (e.g., data 20) that is manually entered by        clinician 38 via e.g., a keyboard (not shown) and/or a pointing        device (not shown) coupled to workstation computing system 36.

However, in order for communication process 10 to properly utilize suchmedical information (e.g., data 20), communication process 10 will needto know the appropriate field into which to place medical information(e.g., data 20).

Accordingly, communication process 10 may determine 402 if the medicalinformation (e.g., data 20) is associable with a specific field (e.g.,field 164) within a medical report (e.g., medical report 40).

When determining 402 if the medical information (e.g., data 20) isassociable with a specific field (e.g., field 164) within a medicalreport (e.g., medical report 40), communication process 10 may:

-   -   associate 404 one or more keywords and/or standardized medical        codes with the specific field (e.g., field 164) within the        medical report (e.g., medical report 40);    -   monitor 406 the medical information (e.g., data 20) for the        occurrence of the one or more keywords and/or standardized        medical codes; and    -   associate 408 the medical information (e.g., data 20) with the        specific field if the medical information (e.g., data 20)        includes the one or more keywords and/or standardized medical        codes.

As discussed above, script 82 may be defined by e.g., clinician 38 andmay generally function as an if/then statement that may be used whenmapping data into the appropriate fields within medical report 40. Forexample, script 82 may define keywords and/or standardized medical codesthat are associable with specific fields within a medical report. Forexample, the keyword:

-   -   “renal” may be associable with the “Kidneys” field within        medical report 40;    -   “pneumonia” may be associable with the “Lungs” field within        medical report 40; and    -   “aorta” may be associable with the “Heart” field within medical        report 40.

Accordingly and when determining 402 if the medical information (e.g.,data 20) is associable with a specific field (e.g., field 164) within amedical report (e.g., medical report 40), communication process 10 maymonitor 406 the medical information (e.g., data 20) for the occurrenceof the one or more keywords and/or standardized medical codes.

Therefore:

-   -   if the medical information (e.g., data 20) includes the keyword        “renal”, the medical information (e.g., data 20) may be        associated 408 with the “Kidneys” field (e.g., field 168) within        medical report 40;    -   if the medical information (e.g., data 20) includes the keyword        “pneumonia”, the medical information (e.g., data 20) may be        associated 408 with the “Lungs” field (e.g., field 164) within        medical report 40; and    -   if the medical information (e.g., data 20) includes the keyword        “aorta”, the medical information (e.g., data 20) may be        associated 408 with the “Heart” field (e.g., field 170) within        medical report 40.

If the medical information (e.g., data 20) is associable with thespecific field (e.g., one of fields 164, 168, 170) within the medicalreport (e.g., medical report 40), communication process 10 may populate410 the specific field (e.g., one of fields 164, 168, 170) within themedical report (e.g., medical report 40) with at least a portion of themedical information (e.g., data 20).

When associating 404 one or more keywords and/or standardized medicalcodes with the specific field (e.g., one of fields 164, 168, 170) withinthe medical report (e.g., medical report 40), communication process 10may use 412 artificial intelligence (e.g., medical analysis platform 56)to process a plurality of previously-generated medical reports (e.g.,medical report 40) to associate the one or more keywords and/orstandardized medical codes with the specific field (e.g., one of fields164, 168, 170) within the medical report (e.g., medical report 40).

As discussed above, pattern recognition is the process of recognizingpatterns using a machine learning algorithm. Accordingly, communicationprocess 10 may utilize medical analysis platform 56 to analyzepreviously-generated medical reports 74 to identify patterns (e.g.,extracted patterns 86) within these previously-generated medical reports74. These extracted patterns (e.g., extracted patterns 86) may be usedto identify the above-described keywords and/or standardized medicalcodes.

For example, communication process 10 may use 412 artificialintelligence (e.g., medical analysis platform 56) to determine that:

-   -   96.3% of the time that “renal” is mentioned, it is in the        “Kidneys” field (e.g., field 168) within medical report 40;    -   98.9% of the time that “pneumonia” is mentioned, it is in the        “Lungs” field (e.g., field 164) within medical report 40; and    -   97.4% of the time that “aorta” is mentioned, it is in the        “Heart” field (e.g., field 170) within medical report 40.

Accordingly, communication process 10 may associate 404:

-   -   “renal” with the “Kidneys” field (e.g., field 168) within        medical report 40;    -   “pneumonia” with the “Lungs” field (e.g., field 164) within        medical report 40; and    -   “aorta” with the “Heart” field (e.g., field 170) within medical        report 40.

If the medical information (e.g., data 20) is not associable with thespecific field (e.g., one of fields 164, 168, 170) within the medicalreport (e.g., medical report 40), communication process 10 may place 414at least a portion of the medical information (e.g., data 20) within alast-used field within the medical report (e.g., medical report 40). Forexample, if clinician 38 was dictating (via e.g., audio input device 42)medical information (e.g., data 20) that included the keyword “renal”,that medical information (e.g., data 20) would be placed within field168 (for the reasons discussed above). If clinician 38 paused for a bitand then dictated “So I recommend the appropriate treatment”, thismedical information (e.g., data 20) does not include any keywords and/orstandardized medical codes. However, being it was dictated followinginformation that was associable with field 168, communication process 10may place 414 at least a portion of the medical information (e.g., “So Irecommend the appropriate treatment”) within a last-used field (e.g.,field 168) within the medical report (e.g., medical report 40).

Additionally/alternatively, if the medical information (e.g., data 20)is not associable with the specific field (e.g., one of fields 164, 168,170) within the medical report (e.g., medical report 40), communicationprocess 10 may mark 416 at least a portion of the medical information(e.g., data 20) as uncertain concerning location. For example,communication process 10 may insert a parenthetical (e.g., PLEASECONFIRM LOCATION) prior to or after the information in question to mark416 the location of the information as uncertain.

Further and if the medical information (e.g., data 20) is not associablewith the specific field (e.g., one of fields 164, 168, 170) within themedical report (e.g., medical report 40), communication process 10 mayask 418 clinician 38 (e.g., a radiologist, a cardiologist or apathologist) where at least a portion of the medical information (e.g.,data 20) should be located. For example, communication process 10 mayrender popup window 172 that asks 418 clinician 38 to confirm thelocation of the information in question.

G) Identifying Actionable Items

Referring also to FIG. 9 and as discussed above, communication process10 may receive 400 medical information (e.g., data 20). As alsodiscussed above, communication process 10 may utilize this medicalinformation (e.g., data 20) to populate medical reports (e.g., medicalreport 40)

As discussed above, this medical information (e.g., data 20) may includeone or more of:

-   -   medical information (e.g., data 20) dictated by clinician 38        (e.g., a radiologist, a cardiologist or a pathologist). For        example, clinician 38 may dictate verbal information via e.g.,        audio input device 42 coupled to workstation computing system        36. This verbal information may be processed via artificial        intelligence platform (e.g., conversational AI platform and/or        medical analysis platform 56).    -   medical information (e.g., data 20) obtained from at least one        disparate platform (e.g., disparate platforms 46, 48, 50, 52,        54, 56).    -   medical information (e.g., data 20) obtained from an existing        medical record (e.g., medical records 72).    -   medical information (e.g., data 20) obtained from an artificial        intelligence platform (e.g., medical analysis platform 56).    -   medical information (e.g., data 20) obtained from a form (e.g.,        handwritten note 76).    -   medical information (e.g., data 20) that is manually entered by        clinician 38 via e.g., a keyboard (not shown) and/or a pointing        device (not shown) coupled to workstation computing system 36.

Communication process 10 may process 450 the medical information (e.g.,data 20) to determine if the medical information (e.g., data 20)includes one or more actionable items. For the following discussion, anactionable item may be something included within medical information(e.g., data 20) that requires some form of follow up/intervention. Ascould be imagined, these actionable items (and the associated follow up)may vary in severity from low severity to high severity. For example:

-   -   If medical information (e.g., data 20) includes a patient's        weight, and the weight of the patient has increased ten pounds        since the last time that the patient visited the doctor; this        may be considered a low-severity actionable item.    -   If medical information (e.g., data 20) includes the patient's        blood pressure, and the blood pressure of the patient is 160        over 120; this may be considered a mid-severity actionable item.    -   If medical information (e.g., data 20) includes an MRI image of        a patient's brain, and the MRI image reveals a brain bleed        situation; this may be considered a high-severity actionable        item.

The actionable items that may be included within the medical information(e.g., data 20) may be defined in various mays. For example, someactionable items may be easily definable via a script (e.g., script 82).

For example and with respect to the blood pressure of a patient, script82 may define the following:

Systolic (mm Hg) Diastolic (mm Hg) Normal Below 120 Below 80 Elevated(hypertension) 120-129 Below 80 Stage 1 hypertension 130-139 80-90 Stage2 hypertension 140 or above 90 or above Hypertensive crisis Over 180Over 120

Further and with respect to the weight of a patient, script 82 maydefine the following:

BMI Height 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 (inches)Body Weight (pounds) 58 91 96 100 105 110 115 119 124 129 134 138 143148 153 158 162 167 59 94 99 104 109 114 119 124 128 133 138 143 148 153158 163 168 173 60 97 102 107 112 118 123 128 133 138 143 148 153 158163 168 174 179 61 100 106 111 116 122 127 132 137 143 148 153 158 164169 174 180 185 62 104 109 115 120 126 131 136 142 147 153 158 164 169175 180 186 191 63 107 113 118 124 130 135 141 146 152 158 163 169 175180 186 191 197 64 110 116 122 128 134 140 145 151 157 163 169 174 180186 192 197 204 65 114 120 126 132 138 144 150 156 162 168 174 180 186192 198 204 210 66 118 124 130 136 142 148 155 161 167 173 179 186 192198 204 210 216 67 121 127 134 140 146 153 159 166 172 178 185 191 198204 211 217 223 68 125 131 138 144 151 158 164 171 177 184 190 197 203210 216 223 230 69 128 135 142 149 155 162 169 176 182 189 196 203 209216 223 230 236 70 132 139 146 153 160 167 174 181 188 195 202 209 216222 229 236 243 71 136 143 150 157 165 172 179 186 193 200 208 215 222229 236 243 250 72 140 147 154 162 169 177 184 191 199 206 213 221 228235 242 250 258 73 144 151 159 166 174 182 189 197 204 212 219 227 235242 250 257 265 74 148 155 163 171 179 186 194 202 210 218 225 233 241249 256 264 272 75 152 160 168 176 184 192 200 208 216 224 232 240 248256 264 272 279 76 156 164 172 180 189 197 205 213 221 230 238 246 254263 271 279 287

Accordingly and for such numerically-quantifiable actionable items,script 82 may be configured to define such action items, as well asassociate a severity with the action item that depends upon e.g., theactionable item's position within the above-referenced tables.

However, some actionable items may not be based upon numbers. Forexample, a brain bleed is not based upon numbers and is based upon whatappears within an image of a patient's brain. Additionally, a growth inthe lung of a patient is not based upon numbers and is based upon whatappears in an image of a patient's chest.

As discussed above, pattern recognition is the process of recognizingpatterns using a machine learning algorithm. Accordingly, communicationprocess 10 may utilize medical analysis platform 56 to analyze e.g.,medical records 72, previously-generated medical reports 74, and/ormedical images (e.g., chest x-ray image 160 available from medical imageplatform 46) to identify patterns (e.g., extracted patterns 86) withinthese medical records 72, previously-generated medical reports 74,and/or medical images (e.g., chest x-ray image 160 available frommedical image platform 46).

For example, medical images in combination with medical reports/recordsmay be analyzed to determine:

-   -   what a typical brain bleed looks like;    -   what a typical aortic aneurysm looks like, and    -   what a typical lung tumor looks like.

These extracted patterns (e.g., extracted patterns 86) may be usedidentify the above-described actionable items.

When processing 450 the medical information (e.g., data 20) to determineif the medical information (e.g., data 20) includes one or moreactionable items, communication process 10 may associate 452 one or morebest practices with one or more actionable items.

Some of these best practices may be easily definable via e.g., script82. For example, if you are ten pounds overweight, you need to eat lessand/or exercise more until you lose the ten pounds. If your bloodpressure is slightly elevated, you may need to exercise more. While ifyour blood pressure is extremely elevated, you may need to be put onhigh blood pressure medication.

However, some best practices may be less numerically driven and harderto discern. Accordingly and when associating 452 one or more bestpractices with one or more actionable items, communication process 10may use 454 artificial intelligence (e.g., medical analysis platform 56)to process a plurality of previously-generated medical reports (e.g.,previously-generated medical reports 74) to associate one or more bestpractices with one or more actionable items.

Again, pattern recognition is the process of recognizing patterns usinga machine learning algorithm. Accordingly, communication process 10 mayutilize medical analysis platform 56 to analyze e.g., medical records72, previously-generated medical reports 74, and/or medical images(e.g., chest x-ray image 160 available from medical image platform 46)to identify patterns (e.g., extracted patterns 86) within these medicalrecords 72, previously-generated medical reports 74, and/or medicalimages (e.g., chest x-ray image 160 available from medical imageplatform 46).

For example, medical images in combination with medical reports/recordsmay be analyzed to determine:

-   -   what a typical response (a best practice) to a brain bleed is;    -   what a typical response (a best practice) to an aortic aneurysm        is, and    -   what a typical response (a best practice) to a lung tumor is.

These extracted patterns (e.g., extracted patterns 86) may be usedidentify the above-described best practices.

If communication process 10 determines 450 that the medical information(e.g., data 20) includes one or more actionable items, communicationprocess 10 may:

-   -   determine 456 an appropriate action item response; and    -   execute 458 the action item response.

When determining 456 an appropriate action item response, communicationprocess 10 may:

-   -   determine 460 a severity for the one or more actionable items;        and    -   identify 462 the appropriate action item response based, at        least in part, upon the severity for the one or more actionable        items.

Accordingly and as discussed above, if the blood pressure of a patientis slightly elevated, the patient may need to exercise more. However, ifthe blood pressure of a patient is extremely elevated, the patient mayneed to be put on high blood pressure medication.

When executing 458 the action item response, communication process 10may:

-   -   identify 464 the one or more actionable items to clinician 38        (e.g., a radiologist, a cardiologist or a pathologist);    -   suggest 466 to clinician 38 (e.g., a radiologist, a cardiologist        or a pathologist) one or more remedial courses of action        concerning the one or more actionable items; and/or    -   execute 468 one or more remedial courses of action concerning        the one or more actionable items.

For example, communication process 10 may identify 464 the one or moreactionable items to clinician 38 (e.g., a radiologist, a cardiologist ora pathologist). Accordingly, clinician 38 may be informed of allactionable items (regardless of severity). Alternatively, clinician 38may be informed of only mid-severity or high-severity actionable items.When identifying 464 the one or more actionable items to clinician 38,communication process 10 may render a popup window (e.g., popup window172) that identifies the one or more actionable items to clinician 38.

Further, communication process 10 may suggest 466 to clinician 38 (e.g.,a radiologist, a cardiologist or a pathologist) one or more remedialcourses of action concerning the one or more actionable items. Asdiscussed above, clinician 38 may be informed of some or all of theactionable items. Further, communication process 10 may make suggestionsto clinician 38 concerning how to address these actionable items. Whensuggesting 466 one or more remedial courses of action concerning the oneor more actionable items to clinician 38, communication process 10 mayrender a popup window (e.g., popup window 172) that suggests thatclinician 38 contact oncology concerning the growth shown in chest x-rayimage 160.

Additionally, communication process 10 may execute 468 one or moreremedial courses of action concerning the one or more actionable items.As discussed above, clinician 38 may be informed of some or all of theactionable items and/or suggestions may be made concerning how toaddress some or all of the actionable items (as discussed above).Further and concerning high-severity situations, communication process10 may automatically execute a remedial course of action. When executing468 one or more remedial courses of action concerning the one or moreactionable items, communications process 10 may e.g., automaticallycontact neurology and automatically schedule a surgery suite when apatient is determined to have a brain bleed.

H) Floating Window

Referring also to FIG. 10 and as discussed above, communication process10 may enable 500 clinician 38 (e.g., a radiologist, a cardiologist or apathologist) to review medical information (e.g., data 20) received fromone or more disparate platforms (e.g., disparate platforms 46, 48, 50,52, 54, 56). As discussed above, these disparate platforms may includedisparate medical platforms (e.g., medical imaging platform 46; medicalreport platform 48; medical record platform 50; conversational AIplatform 52; illumination platform 54 and/or medical analysis platform56.

Further and as discussed above, communication process 10 may receive 502observational medical data (e.g., data 58) from the clinician 38 (e.g.,a radiologist, a cardiologist or a pathologist) concerning the medicalinformation (e.g., data 20), wherein communication process 10 mayprocess 504 at least a portion of the medical information (e.g., data20) and/or the observational medical data (e.g., data 58) to populate atleast a portion of a medical report (e.g., medical report 40).

Referring also to FIG. 11 and in order to enhance the user experience ofclinician 38, communication process 10 may render 506 a summary window(e.g., summary window 550) concerning the population of the at least aportion of the medical report (e.g., medical report 40). Summary window550 may be a transparent overlay summary window, thus allowing clinician38 to see the information below summary window 550. Accordingly andregardless of where summary window 550 is positioned within monitor 150,the content of monitor 150 (in this example, chest x-ray image 160) willnot be obscured by summary window 550.

Communication process 10 may enable 508 clinician 38 (e.g., aradiologist, a cardiologist or a pathologist) to adjust one or more of:

-   -   Summary Window Size: In a fashion similar to that of a window        within a personal computer, communication process 10 may allow        clinician 38 to adjust the size of summary window 550 (e.g.,        increased or decreased with respect to width or height).    -   Summary Window Position: In a fashion similar to that of a        window within a personal computer, the position of summary        window 550 may be repositioned (e.g., dragged and dropped)        within the display area of monitor 150. Further and as shown in        FIG. 3, summary window 550 may be repositioned amongst the        various monitors (e.g., 150, 152, 154). Accordingly,        communication process 10 may allow clinician 38 to position        summary window 550 within the monitor on which they are        currently working. So if clinician 38 is utilizing monitor 150        to review chest x-ray image 160, communication process 10 may        allow clinician 38 to position summary window 550 within monitor        150 so that clinician 38 can view summary window 550 without        needing to take their eyes off of (in this example) chest x-ray        image 160.    -   Summary Window Transparency: Communication process 10 may allow        clinician 38 to adjust the transparency of summary window 550,        thus allowing clinician 38 to adjust how visible the content of        monitor 150 is through summary window 550. For example,        clinician 38 may adjust the transparency of summary window 550        from very transparent (e.g., essentially invisible) to not        transparent at all (e.g., fully obscuring what is underneath        summary window 550)    -   Summary Window Content: Communication process 10 may allow        clinician 38 to adjust what is included within summary window        550. For example, communication process 10 may allow clinician        38 to decide whether summary window 550 includes:        -   a microphone status (e.g., microphone status indicator 552)            that informs clinician 38 as to whether the microphone            (e.g., audio input device 42) is currently turned on;        -   a current dictation mode (e.g., dictation status indicator            554) that informs clinician 38 as to whether or not they are            currently in dictation mode;        -   an audio input level (e.g., audio input level indicator 556)            that informs clinician 38 of the audio level of their voice            signal (as provided by audio input device 42);        -   a plurality of fields (e.g., plurality of fields indicator            558) included within the medical report (e.g., medical            report 40);        -   an active field (e.g., active field indicator 560) included            within the medical report (e.g., medical report 40);        -   alerts (e.g., alert indicator 562) for one or more            actionable items; and        -   an application waiting (e.g., application waiting indicator            564) for input in a dialog.

Communication process 10 may store 510 one or more user-defined visualaspects (e.g., the above-described summary window size, summary windowposition, summary window transparency and summary windows content) ofthe summary window (e.g., summary window 550) for use during subsequentsessions of summary window 550. Accordingly and once clinician 38 hasconfigured summary window 550 to their liking, these configurations maybe saved so that clinician 38 does to need to reconfigure summary window550 the next time they use the system.

Continuing with the above-described example, assume that clinician 38 isreviewing chest x-ray image 160 on monitor 150. Accordingly, clinician38 may position summary window 550 within monitor 150 so that clinician38 may view summary window 550 without needing to take their eyes off ofchest x-ray image 160, thus providing functionality similar to that of ahead-up display in a car, wherein the driver may view vital information(e.g., speed, navigation instructions, etc.) without needing to taketheir eyes off of the road.

As shown in FIG. 3, medical report 40 is shown to include five fields,namely patient name, patient address, lungs, heart, and kidneys.Accordingly, plurality of fields indicator 558 within summary window 550may identify the fields included within medical report 40. While medicalreport 40 is shown to include only five fields, this is for illustrativepurposes only and it is understood that medical report 40 may includemany additional fields. Additionally, active field indicator 560 withinsummary window 550 may identify the field in which communication process10 is currently entering data. As discussed above, communication process10 may enter the prose “Patient John Smith has a growth in the lowerquadrant of left lung that measures 5.1 centimeters”. Accordingly,active field indicator 560 may indicate the “lungs” field (e.g., field164) as the active field within medical report 40.

Further, audio input level indicator 556 within summary window 550 maybe a sweeping audio level indicator that generally shows thevolume/strength of the audio signal that clinician 38 is providing toaudio input device 42, thus allowing clinician 38 to adjust the loudnessof their voice and/or adjust the gain of audio input device 42 if thevolume/strength of the audio signal is too strong or too weak.

As discussed above, communication process 10 may process 512 the medicalinformation (e.g., data 20) and/or the observational medical data (e.g.,data 58) to determine if the medical information (e.g., data 20) and/orthe observational medical data (e.g., data 58) includes one or moreactionable items, which may include associating 514 one or more bestpractices with one or more actionable items. And when associating 514the one or more best practices with one or more actionable items,communication process 10 may use 516 artificial intelligence to processa plurality of previously-generated medical report (e.g., medical report40) to associate one or more best practices with one or more actionableitems.

Assuming that communication process 10 associates the best practice ofcontacting oncology when a patient has “a growth in the lower quadrantof left lung that measures 5.1 centimeters”, summary window 550 mayrender the message “Call Oncology” within alert indicator 562 of summarywindow 550.

Further and as discussed above, medical images in combination withmedical reports/records may be analyzed to determine: what a typicalbrain bleed looks like; what a typical aortic aneurysm looks like, andwhat a typical lung tumor looks like. Accordingly, communication process10 and/or medical imaging platform 46 (e.g., PACS) may identify growth162 by e.g., circling growth 162. Accordingly and to direct theattention of clinician 38 to medical imaging platform 46 (e.g., PACS)and the circled growth identified therein, communication process 10 mayrender the message “PACS Requires Attention” within application waitingindicator 564.

General

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present disclosuremay be embodied as a method, a system, or a computer program product.Accordingly, the present disclosure may take the form of an entirelyhardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (includingfirmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodimentcombining software and hardware aspects that may all generally bereferred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore,the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program producton a computer-usable storage medium having computer-usable program codeembodied in the medium.

Any suitable computer usable or computer readable medium may beutilized. The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, forexample but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical,electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device,or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) ofthe computer-readable medium may include the following: an electricalconnection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, ahard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), anerasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), anoptical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), anoptical storage device, a transmission media such as those supportingthe Internet or an intranet, or a magnetic storage device. Thecomputer-usable or computer-readable medium may also be paper or anothersuitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can beelectronically captured, via, for instance, optical scanning of thepaper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, or otherwiseprocessed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then stored in acomputer memory. In the context of this document, a computer-usable orcomputer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store,communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or inconnection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.The computer-usable medium may include a propagated data signal with thecomputer-usable program code embodied therewith, either in baseband oras part of a carrier wave. The computer usable program code may betransmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited tothe Internet, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the presentdisclosure may be written in an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like. However, the computer programcode for carrying out operations of the present disclosure may also bewritten in conventional procedural programming languages, such as the“C” programming language or similar programming languages. The programcode may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user'scomputer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user'scomputer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remotecomputer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may beconnected to the user's computer through a local area network/a widearea network/the Internet (e.g., network 14).

The present disclosure is described with reference to flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) andcomputer program products according to embodiments of the disclosure. Itwill be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/orblock diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, may be implemented by computerprogram instructions. These computer program instructions may beprovided to a processor of a general purpose computer/special purposecomputer/other programmable data processing apparatus, such that theinstructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus, create means for implementingthe functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that may direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instruction meanswhich implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The flowcharts and block diagrams in the figures may illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations,and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustrations, may be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure.As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the disclosure and the practical application, and toenable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosurefor various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

A number of implementations have been described. Having thus describedthe disclosure of the present application in detail and by reference toembodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications andvariations are possible without departing from the scope of thedisclosure defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method, executed on acomputing system, comprising: defining a communication computing systemwithin a computing network, wherein the computing network includes aplurality of disparate platforms configured to provide informationconcerning various topics; enabling a first of the plurality ofdisparate platforms to process information concerning a specific topic;generating observational data for the information concerning thespecific topic; and providing the observational data for the informationconcerning the specific topic to at least a second of the plurality ofdisparate platforms via the communication computing system.
 2. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the plurality ofdisparate platforms includes a plurality of disparate medical platforms.3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein the plurality ofdisparate medical platforms includes one or more of: a medical imagingplatform; a medical report platform; a medical analysis platform; amedical record platform; and a conversational AI platform.
 4. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein the informationconcerning various topics includes information concerning variouspatients.
 5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein thecommunication computing system includes a cloud-based communicationcomputing system.
 6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 whereinat least a portion of the plurality of disparate platforms is executedon a single computing system.
 7. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 1 wherein enabling a first of the plurality of disparate platformsto process information concerning a specific topic includes: enabling auser of the first of the plurality of disparate platforms to reviewmedical information concerning a specific patient.
 8. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 7 wherein generating observationaldata for the information concerning the specific topic includes:enabling the user of the first of the plurality of disparate platformsto generate structured data concerning the specific patient.
 9. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein providing theobservational data for the information concerning the specific topic toat least a second of the plurality of disparate platforms via thecommunication computing system includes: receiving the observationaldata on the communication computing system.
 10. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 9 wherein providing the observational data for theinformation concerning the specific topic to at least a second of theplurality of disparate platforms via the communication computing systemincludes: broadcasting the observational data to the at least a secondof the plurality of disparate platforms.
 11. A computer program productresiding on a computer readable medium having a plurality ofinstructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, causethe processor to perform operations comprising: defining a communicationcomputing system within a computing network, wherein the computingnetwork includes a plurality of disparate platforms configured toprovide information concerning various topics; enabling a first of theplurality of disparate platforms to process information concerning aspecific topic; generating observational data for the informationconcerning the specific topic; and providing the observational data forthe information concerning the specific topic to at least a second ofthe plurality of disparate platforms via the communication computingsystem.
 12. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein theplurality of disparate platforms includes a plurality of disparatemedical platforms.
 13. The computer program product of claim 12 whereinthe plurality of disparate medical platforms includes one or more of: amedical imaging platform; a medical report platform; a medical analysisplatform; a medical record platform; and a conversational AI platform.14. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the informationconcerning various topics includes information concerning variouspatients.
 15. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein thecommunication computing system includes a cloud-based communicationcomputing system.
 16. The computer program product of claim 11 whereinat least a portion of the plurality of disparate platforms is executedon a single computing system.
 17. The computer program product of claim11 wherein enabling a first of the plurality of disparate platforms toprocess information concerning a specific topic includes: enabling auser of the first of the plurality of disparate platforms to reviewmedical information concerning a specific patient.
 18. The computerprogram product of claim 17 wherein generating observational data forthe information concerning the specific topic includes: enabling theuser of the first of the plurality of disparate platforms to generatestructured data concerning the specific patient.
 19. The computerprogram product of claim 11 wherein providing the observational data forthe information concerning the specific topic to at least a second ofthe plurality of disparate platforms via the communication computingsystem includes: receiving the observational data on the communicationcomputing system.
 20. The computer program product of claim 19 whereinproviding the observational data for the information concerning thespecific topic to at least a second of the plurality of disparateplatforms via the communication computing system includes: broadcastingthe observational data to the at least a second of the plurality ofdisparate platforms.
 21. A computing system including a processor andmemory configured to perform operations comprising: defining acommunication computing system within a computing network, wherein thecomputing network includes a plurality of disparate platforms configuredto provide information concerning various topics; enabling a first ofthe plurality of disparate platforms to process information concerning aspecific topic; generating observational data for the informationconcerning the specific topic; and providing the observational data forthe information concerning the specific topic to at least a second ofthe plurality of disparate platforms via the communication computingsystem.
 22. The computing system of claim 21 wherein the plurality ofdisparate platforms includes a plurality of disparate medical platforms.23. The computing system of claim 22 wherein the plurality of disparatemedical platforms includes one or more of: a medical imaging platform; amedical report platform; a medical analysis platform; a medical recordplatform; and a conversational AI platform.
 24. The computing system ofclaim 22 wherein the information concerning various topics includesinformation concerning various patients.
 25. The computing system ofclaim 21 wherein the communication computing system includes acloud-based communication computing system.
 26. The computing system ofclaim 21 wherein at least a portion of the plurality of disparateplatforms is executed on a single computing system.
 27. The computingsystem of claim 21 wherein enabling a first of the plurality ofdisparate platforms to process information concerning a specific topicincludes: enabling a user of the first of the plurality of disparateplatforms to review medical information concerning a specific patient.28. The computing system of claim 27 wherein generating observationaldata for the information concerning the specific topic includes:enabling the user of the first of the plurality of disparate platformsto generate structured data concerning the specific patient.
 29. Thecomputing system of claim 21 wherein providing the observational datafor the information concerning the specific topic to at least a secondof the plurality of disparate platforms via the communication computingsystem includes: receiving the observational data on the communicationcomputing system.
 30. The computing system of claim 29 wherein providingthe observational data for the information concerning the specific topicto at least a second of the plurality of disparate platforms via thecommunication computing system includes: broadcasting the observationaldata to the at least a second of the plurality of disparate platforms.